Starting next December, WhatsApp will stop working on a long list of older mobile phones. who are still using outdated versions of Android and iOS. The change will primarily affect those who continue to use phones from several years ago as their main communication device.
The measure is not limited to a single manufacturer: Popular models from Samsung, Apple, LG, Sony, Motorola, HTC, Huawei, or Asus will lose access to the appIn Europe and Spain there are still a good number of users with these devices in use, so it is advisable Check if your mobile phone is among those affected. before the date arrives.
Which systems will no longer be compatible with WhatsApp
Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, has confirmed that The app will no longer be compatible with Android 5.1 or earlier versions., as well as with iOS 11 or lowerIn other words, all phones that cannot be updated beyond these operating systems will see the application stop working correctly.
In practice, this means that mobile phones that haven't received official updates for years They will be left out. Although in some cases WhatsApp might continue to open for a while, the service will gradually degrade until It is not possible to send or receive messagesnor install new versions of the app.
This type of cutback is not a one-off event: WhatsApp periodically updates its list of compatible systems To maintain a secure and stable service, by raising the minimum requirements for Android and iOS, the company can integrate more modern features without being limited by the hardware and software of older devices.
For users, the change involves reviewing which version of the operating system do they have installedOn Android, you can check it at Settings > About phone > Android version, while on iPhone it appears in Settings> General> Information, under the iOS version section.
List of Android phones that will lose WhatsApp
The affected Android phones include both high-end models from their time and simpler devices. They all share a common denominator: they are anchored in old versions of the system, such as Android 5.0 or 5.1, with no official option to upgrade to more modern editions.
Estos son los de algunos Main Android phones that will no longer be able to use WhatsApp from December:
- Samsung: Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Trend.
- Sony: Xperia M4 Aqua, Xperia Z, Xperia SP, Xperia T, Xperia V, Xperia Z2.
- Motorola: Moto X, Moto G (first generation), Moto E (2014).
- LG: LG G4, Optimus G, Nexus 4, G2 Mini, LG G3.
- HTC: One M8.
- Huawei: Ascend Mate 7, Ascend Mate 2.
- Asus: ZenFone 2.
The list is not necessarily exhaustive, since any phone that's still stuck on Android 5.x or lower It suffers the same fate. Many of these devices no longer receive security patches from Google or the manufacturers, which increases the risks for the user.
In most cases, even manually forcing an update will not make it possible to reach Android 6 or higher, so The only way to continue using WhatsApp normally will be to change devices.Although it may seem like a nuisance, we're talking about mobile phones that in many cases are already over eight or nine years old.
Affected iPhones: Which models will lose the app?
Within the Apple ecosystem, the impact will also be significant. iPhones that cannot be updated beyond iOS 11 They will lose WhatsApp support.which includes several models that were bestsellers at the time and are still in circulation today.
Amongst the Apple phones that will lose compatibility the following stand out:
- iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s.
- iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
- iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
- 7 iPhone.
- iPhone SE (first generation).
- iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
In these models, The problem isn't the hardware itself, but the inability to install newer versions of iOSApple focuses its support efforts on newer generations, leaving these devices without the latest security and performance improvements.
If your iPhone can be updated to a version higher than iOS 11, it's crucial to check as soon as possible. In some specific cases, Upgrading to a newer version of the system can extend the phone's lifespan a little longer. with regard to WhatsApp and other everyday applications.
Why WhatsApp excludes these phones
The decision to cut support for older versions of Android and iOS is not solely a marketing issue or an attempt to encourage mobile phone upgrades. WhatsApp bases its operation on modern encryption technologies, libraries, and development frameworks. that cease to be fully compatible with very old systems.
Features like Enhanced end-to-end encryption, advanced privacy tools, communities, new call and video call formats Integration with other services requires a technical foundation that older systems simply don't offer. Maintaining versions adapted to those environments would entail a high cost and a hindrance to development of new products.
Furthermore, many of these devices have not received security patches for years, which means that They are more vulnerable to attacks, malware, and critical failuresFrom the company's point of view, continuing to allow the use of the app on phones without official support poses an added risk to the protection of user data.
For all these reasons, the company prefers to concentrate resources on ensuring that mobile phones that are still updatable should have the best possible experience, instead of maintaining limited and potentially unsafe compatibility with outdated hardware.
What will happen on your phone when the date arrives?
The change doesn't always happen suddenly, but the end result is the same: The application will no longer function reliably on affected mobile devices.Most commonly, the app will eventually stop receiving updates from Google Play or the App Store.
As days go by, You may encounter errors when opening WhatsApp, unexpected closures, problems sending or receiving messages, or warnings that the version is too old.At a certain point, the service will be directly blocked and it will not be possible to log in or link the account.
WhatsApp states in its Help Center that, Before an operating system is no longer supported, notifications are displayed within the app. reminding the user to update. If your phone continues to receive official updates, this notification is a clear sign that it's time to install them.
On devices that can no longer be updated, these warnings are practically nonexistent. a final call to plan the terminal changeIt's important not to overlook them, especially if you use the app for work, studies, or important tasks.
How to prepare for the transition: backups and options
Before changing your mobile phone, the most important thing is Protect your chats, photos, videos, and documents So that your data isn't lost when the app goes down, WhatsApp offers built-in tools to back up your data to the cloud, either on Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone).
The process is simple: just go to Settings> Chats> BackupSelect the corresponding Google or Apple account and tap save. It's recommended to do this with your phone connected to a Wi-Fi network, especially if you have a lot of media files stored on your device.
Once you get your new phone, all you'll have to do is Install WhatsApp, verify your number, and restore your backup to recover most of your conversations and content. This way, the switch from an older device to a newer one will be much less traumatic.
If for any reason you can't change your mobile phone immediately, some people opt for Use WhatsApp Web or the desktop version on a computer. However, these alternatives depend on having at least one compatible and active mobile device linked to the account, so they don't solve the problem in the long term.
The end of WhatsApp support for Android 5.1, iOS 11, and earlier versions marks the definitive end of the app for an entire generation of phones that defined an era, from the Galaxy S5 to the first-generation iPhone 6, 7, SE, and iPhone 8. While changing devices might be a hassle, upgrading to a newer phone not only guarantees uninterrupted use of the application but also offers enhanced security, improved performance, and access to modern features that have already become part of everyday life.